The Fighter Essay

“CLOZE” Essay:



Characterization in The Fighter



“The Fighter” is a short story written by Walter Dean Myers. The story is about a man named Billy who is a young father and husband living in New York City. Billy seems desperate to earn money for his family. Even though his wife does not approve, he participates in boxing matches in order to make extra income. Myers presents both Billy and his wife, Johnnie Mae, as strong characters with distinct traits: Billy is a dishonest man while Johnnie Mae is a caring person.



Billy is clearly a dishonest man, First of all, "Billy Giles told his wife that he was going to the gym to work out. If he`d told he the truth, that he was going to fight again, he knew she would have cried.(p.27) That peice of evidence is proof of Billy's dishonesty. His dishonety worries Johnie Mae on an increasing level, because Billy could get injured or possibly die. Second of all, "He had told Johnie Mae that he`d finished high school, but he really hadn't ."(p.34) Billy has concealed his high school failure from Johnie Mae and Billy is now unable to aquire a decent paying job. Third of all, his envy for new appliances is making him spend money he does not have, for example, "Later he would have to tell Johnie Mae that he changed his mind, that the thirtytwo-inch-set was too big for their small living room, but for the moment in the appliance store he couldn`t back out of the game." (p.36) His oversized ego is allowing him to buy thing that are uneeded and unaffordable. As readers, however, we are able to empathize with Billy because his dishonesty is for a good perpouse, and he risks his life for his family and money to feed his wife and baby.





This story has the power to teach us a lot about our own lives. These characters, even though they may be flawed and not perfect, provide valuable lessons that readers can learn from. On the one hand, Billy is a dishonest person, but he is also a hard-worker and a father who desperately wants to provide for his family. Also, through Myers’ portrayal of Billy’s life we are able to learn about the importance of the decisions that we make during our teen years because Billy’s poor childhood decisionssignificantly affect his adult life. Johnnie Mae also teaches us something important about real life. She teaches us that we ought to be caring and forgiving. She teaches us to react to others with compassion and kindness. Her ability to forgive Billy can serve as an example for all of us.



In conclusion, both Billy and Johnnie Mae represent strong characters who have different traits. On the one hand, Billy is a man who has been repeatedly dishonest with himself and with his wife. Johnnie Mae is a woman who is able to overcome her disappointment and frustration in order to be caring partner. She has every reason to be angry, yet she chooses forgiveness. This story and these characters remind us that it is important to be both honest and caring in life.